Sign for highways



Oct. 11, 1938. A. D. HDE

SIGN FOR HIGHWAYS Filed May 3, 1938 ffrlllltrllll t]? Jade H 1 installed to indicate any one Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE 1 2,132,478 I SIGN FOR HIGHWAYS Albert D. Ide, Chicago, Ill. Application May 3, 1938, Serial No. 205,743

3 Claims.

My present invention relates to signs for the intersections of highways with railroads or other highways. The increased speed of motor vehicles over horse drawn vehicles renders it desirable to utilize every facility for the prevention of highway accidents. It is believed that the indication of the direction from which danger may approach will contribute to thesafety of driving without unduly complicating the nature of the sign or signal which is employed for indicating the direction of approach of possible danger.

It has been my object to provide instrumentalities which may be adjusted and arranged to indicate the relations of intersecting highways or intersections of highways with railroads which will permit the sign to 'be uniformly and economically constructed in a factory and will only require simple adjustment and arrangement when of a great many relations which intersecting highways and railroads may have to each other. I

I attain the foregoing object by means of the accompanying drawing in which,--

Fig. 1 is a front view of a sign embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental side elevation of the sign shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail, to an enlarged scale, showing means of suspension of sign;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental detail of a modified form of annulus;

Figs. 5 and 6 are examples of varying forms of intersections which may be shown by my sign;

Fig. '7 is a detail side elevation of a modified form of sign;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the sign shown in Fig. '7, and

Fig. 9 is a side view of a commercial form of reflector which may be employed with my sign.

The horizon at the location of the intersection is schematically illustrated by an annular band A located peripherally of the circular or disc like sign. This annular peripheral band A may be a separate piece of material, as shown in Fig. 1 or it may be an integrally extending flange, such as at A in Fig. 7 of a disc, the central portion of which is slightlydepressed to form the perforations of the central disc B. About the annulus A, at distances of approximately 22 degrees, I provide perforations C which are for the receipt of the threaded stems extending from the bases of reflector bulls-eyes which are, not infrequently, used for reflecting back the illumination of the driving lights of motor vehicles and which can now be obtained on the market in diverse forms and sizes. I provide the perforations C, at 22 degrees apart, so that the annular band will need but little circumferential adjustment to bring one ofthe perforations at the point of the horizon from which, or to which, the intersecting road or railroad approaches. other reflector is positioned in the portion of the peripheral band over which the other end of the approaching intersecting highway or railroad either comes into view or departs from view as the case may be.

The central .disc B has provided therein radial lines of perforations D similar to the perfora-- tions C in the annulus A, and also curved lines of perforations at E and F, the central portions of both of which pass through the center of the disc.

It is assumed, and this assumption is instantly understood without explanation, that the highway, at the side of which the sign is to be installed, proceeds vertically through the center of the disc. If the railroad or intersecting highway approaches the intersection from its horizon location in a curve, a suitable curved line is chosen and brought opposite the horizontallocation in the annulus and in the perforations in the line, reflectors are inserted. The opposite segment of the intersecting highway from the intersection to the other horizon point, is likewise filled with reflectors. 30

The disc and annulus are secured in adjusted relation by screws G as shown in Fig. 2.

I have illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 various relations of highways to railroads which may be easily indicated by the adjustment of my sign. If it is desired to show the location of the highway by which the sign is located it may be painted in as shown at H in Figs. 5 and 6. If the amount of traflic in the highway justifies or requires the expenditure, the reflectors in my sign may be replaced by either flashing or continuously burning electric lights.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A sign having a peripheral portion with means for indicating thereupon the horizon origin of intersecting roads and a central portion, adjustable with respect to said peripheral portion, provided with radial and curvilinear lines of means indicating the intersection of such roads 50 at the center of said central portions.

2. A sign having a peripheral portion with spaced apertures therein adapted to receive reflectors indicating the horizon location of intersecting roads, and a central disc provided with 55 radial and curvilinear rows of apertures passing persing elements at spaced intervals for designatthrough the center of said disc, also adapted to ing the horizon locations of the intersecting ways receive like reflectors connecting the horizon and a central portion provided with radial and designating reflectors located in said peripheral curvilinear lines of apertures adapted to receive 5 portion, said central and peripheral portions havlike light-dispersing elements, connecting pairs 5 ing adjustment with respect to each other. of said peripheral apertures through the center 3. A sign for indicating the relation of interof said central portion and means for securing sections of a highway with a railroad or another said peripheral and central portions in adjusted highway comprising an annular peripheral porrelation. 10 tion having apertures for the receipt of light dis- ALBERT D. IDE. 10 

